Battle For The Kansas City Chiefs #2 Wide Receiver

by Joel Thorman on Oct 3, 2008 7:03 AM CDT in 2008 Kansas City Chiefs Campaign

The Kansas City Chiefs wide receiver situation starts off exciting with the name Dwayne Bowe who had a highly productive rookie year. Just shy of 1,000 yards, he proved to be exciting on AND off the field. But after that, the 'ready-now' talent pool dries up.

With the addition of Mark Bradley, will anyone step up and put a stake in the #2 wide receiver spot?

Jeff Webb is perceived to be a Herm Edwards favorite considering his alma mater. A 6th round draft choice just two years ago, Webb has been underwhelming. But, as Herm would say, 'That's okay'. What did we expect out of a 6th rounder? A complementary role player.

Devard Darling was a 3rd rounder in 2004 and up until 2007 had been used almost exclusively as a return man. Darling was non-existent in the preseason and has just one catch in three separate games for the Chiefs this year. He's (allegedly) a speedster, so why isn't he being utilized more?

Will Franklin has been battling an injury which has limited to one catch in the regular season. Still, he thrived while at Mizzou albeit in the spread offense. We've been high on him for quite some time but reality needs to set in. Rookie wide receivers are generally regarded as the lowest impact players in the draft. Bowe is a huge exception to this rule. Franklin's unlikely to catapult himself to the #2 spot this season.

Mark Bradley comes from an offense with a more putrid quarterback situation than the Chiefs with the Chicago Bears. Grossman and Orton had trouble calling his number but then again they have that problem with a lot of receivers. He was productive at Oklahoma and was expected to accrue similar success when the Bears used a 2nd rounder on him in the 2005 draft. Was Muhsin Muhammad right when he said Chicago is where "receivers go to die"? Or is Bradley another player waiting for the right opportunity?

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Bradley

How long before he can be effective. Is he completely healthy?

by dklogue1 on Oct 3, 2008 8:12 AM CDT reply actions

That is the question I have too (How Long?)

It usually takes a little while to learn a different offense. It might help that he has been in the league for 3 years, but who knows. I hope he can contribute soon. Sometimes it feels as if we don’t have any other receivers besides Bowe.

by TheQ on Oct 3, 2008 10:43 PM CDT up reply actions

Chicago Receivers

Was Muhsin Muhammad right when he said Chicago is where “receivers go to die”?

I think it has more to do with the problems bfo and I were discussing yesterday regarding the QB situation. Tough for any receiver to shine when the QBs all stink. But they have had some good ones who were able to shine even in the worst of times. Curtis Conway immediately comes to mind. Marty Booker had some success, as did Marcus Robinson. But overall, yes, Chicago has been a WR graveyard…very few extended periods of success for any WR in the years when Harbaugh or McMahon weren’t throwing the ball.

Supporting the lesser of two evils is still supporting something evil.

by UCrawford on Oct 3, 2008 9:14 AM CDT reply actions

Here's the Year-By-Year Leaders For The Bears Franchise

Note that the last guy to lead the team in receiving yards more than three consecutive seasons was Willie Gault, back in the ’80s.

http://www.pro-football-reference.com/teams/chi/

Supporting the lesser of two evils is still supporting something evil.

by UCrawford on Oct 3, 2008 9:16 AM CDT up reply actions

Has he practiced this week?

I know he was added like 5 minutes ago, but has anyone heard how he looked at practice? Basically how is his speed after the injury?

by dkugler838 on Oct 3, 2008 9:16 AM CDT reply actions

This is almost a non issure

How many times has the number 2 receiver even been thrown to this season. We could has T.O., Ocho Cinco or any other receiver as the #2 and they still wouldn’t have catches because the QBs are not even looking at the second receiver.

I swear their progression on passing plays is either Bowe/Tony first, then whatever running back is closest to the line of scrimage (preferably behind the line). If our pass protection gets a little better maybe this will eventually become a position we can evaluate better.

by tevans96 on Oct 3, 2008 10:36 AM CDT reply actions

Part of that

is due to the merry-go-round at QB for the Chiefs. With Huard firmly entrenched as the QB (at least until Croyle returns) hopefully we’ll see a little more diversity in his targets. Keep in mind that Huard barely played during the preseason and he had all of a quarter and a half of football in the first three weeks because Herm thought that Thigpen was capable of being a starter. So a little rust is to be expected.

Supporting the lesser of two evils is still supporting something evil.

by UCrawford on Oct 3, 2008 10:47 AM CDT up reply actions

I think we completed passes to 5 or 6 targets last Sunday

Gonzalez, Bowe, Cox, Webb, Franklin, LJ, ..did Charles catch one?

by PVChiefsfan on Oct 3, 2008 11:02 AM CDT up reply actions

Devard Darling

Calling him a “Speedster” is a real laugher. He is the one who got caught from behind in the New England game that kept us out of the end zone. Remember he was tackled on the 5 yard line from behind. If he was a “Speedster” he would have run it in all the way for a touchdown!!!!!!!!!! He’s not that fast.

by chiefs82 on Oct 3, 2008 5:21 PM CDT reply actions